New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-17
AN INTERVIEW WITH GEN. HENDERSON
TIE PRESIDENTS ORDER AN OUTRAGEOUS ONE
PERHAPS CONGRESS WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO
SAY ABOUT 1T.

rup PRESIDENTS ORDER AN OUTRAGEOUS ONE
PERHAPS CONGRESS WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO
SAY ABOUT 1T.
WASHINGTON, June 16 tSpecian.-Betore the Pres
ident rescnded his order for the surrender OF the
rsbel Aags a TRIBUNE correspondent to-day saw Sen
ator Henderson OF Nebraska who served through the
war and received commission as brevet brigadier-
general
What do you think OF the order toIrestore the capt
ured rebel fagsr asked the correspondent.
81 think it is outrageous" was the prompt reply
General Henderson continued " The SECRETARY of
War in my opinion, has more right to surrender
those flags than he would have to restore 20 Mexico
the cannon captured during with that country
ar TO treat Britain the standards we captured from
her in the war Of 1912. The captured Confederate
aacs certainly are the property Of the United States
and neither the President nor the Secretary oil war
can dispose of public property except by authority OF
law In the case OF the Twiggs swords and the jew
erv trinkes, ETC., taken from private individuals
md deposited in the Treasury, an act OF Congress
was found necessary TO authorize their restoration
20 the So, too, OF the Official letter DOCKS OF
the State OF North Carolina. The State asked for
certified copies and joint resolution OF Congress- was
passed before they could be furnished The claim OF
The private individual for the restoration Of prop
er,y which was not contraband OF war Is mach
stronger OF course than that OF State whieh had
passed an ordinance Of secession aud taken mp arms
against the Government. But would IKE u see
CODY of the Presidents order"
The correspondent could show only copy Of the
letter which Acknowledgement Drum has sent to the
Governors OF the late rebel States-and presumably
70 the Governors of Maryland, Kentucky and Mis-,
souri, Alter reading the letter car eiuily General
Henderson re-read aloud as follows:
The President Of the United having approved
the that all the flags IN the custody of
the respective states which the regiments which bore
them organized for such final disposition as they
fary of War TO make YOU in the the War Depart
ment tender OF the flags now in this office belonging
GINA dscharging this pleasant duty beg yon will
please advise me of your wishes in this matter IL Is the
as is possible to do stating the circumstance OF its
capture and recovery.
Then General Henderson said You have
made great mistake. This letter can
refer only to the flags OF gimens which bore the
Stars and Stripes Don't you see that General Drum
refers the late volunteer organizations and speaks
OF dischargng this pleasant duty OF returning t'e
fags " Inch belonged TO Them You should remember
that this letter mates from the war Department
psb s Sac Governments. Besides, General Drum
speaks OF the pleasant duty which he has to per-
form. But his letter does refer TO the rebel flags
which captured by la:e volunteer organiza-
tons from oya States and intrusted 10 the War De-
parroent safe keeping, am glad thai history OF
the OF eacL flag s 20 with It, Some OF those
fsgs are discolored by the blood OF The who capt
nred item. la such probably the war Depart
ment will feel 'mpeied to append statement some
what as fellows:
regret be compelled to return this flag in dam
thoughtess and inconsderae as 10 spill some of
his blood upon It, that you will forgive him and
accept this apology In his behalf
By the way" exclaimed the Senator IL have a
rebel bullet in my tody which l have carried since
the think must have il dug out and returned
with an apolos, for having kept 1t so lons."
4" Well, what saould be done with the disguise in
which Jefferson Davis attempted to escape and which
captured anc deposited in the War Department :"
Z" Oh that must be returned to JEFF, OF course and
40 must the manuscript OF that old song, il can be
found You remember how Il ran = Wen hang jed
DAVIS to sour apple tree All copies OF that song
anu others like il must re collected and DESTROYED
In short Ne must start crusade to blot out the
memories of the war, and must forget that there
Wss any dihereuce between loyalty aud treason."
senator Henderson continued Now, do not